Hearts missed their chance to move top of the Premier Division and were
fortunate to avoid defeat at Tynecastle as Kilmarnock looked the team with title
credentials.
John Henry's 33rd minute effort for the visitors cancelled out a Dave
McPherson strike nine minutes earlier as Hearts broke under the pressure of
needing victory to displace Celtic.
The problem with Championship dreams is that if you sleep on them too long you
are caught out and this result might easily have been more damning for the home
side.
But for a measure of good fortune, a late Paul Wright volley hit the post, and
an inspired display throughout from Hearts keeper Gilles Rousset, Kilmarnock
would surely have secured a win.
Hearts started without French striker Stephane Adam again missing with a groin
strain, while a pelvic problem ruled out Colin Cameron. Rousset made an
important early reaction save for Hearts denying Jim McIntyre after his defence
failed to clear a low drive from Dylan Kerr.
Moments later, in Kilmarnock's next attack the home keeper again did well this
time to push away a Gary Holt header after the midfielder connected powerfully
with Henry's corner.
Hearts' response on nine minutes brought the best out of Rousset's opposite
number Gordon Marshall whose low stop kept out a fierce effort from Jim
Hamilton.
But Kilmarnock continued to press and Rousset again had to be alert after 12
minutes to block a near post strike from the busy Henry. An early injury to Gary
Locke gave yesterday's £75,000 signing from Huddersfield Lee Makel a 22nd minute
debut as substitute, though hardly in the circumstances he would have wanted.
Makel made an immediate impression however as his corner skimmed off the head
of David Weir to McPherson who drove the ball in at the far post. The 24th
minute lead was against the run of play and could not succeed in relaxing Hearts
who were clearly taken aback by the visitors' positive approach to the fixture.
Kilmarnock proved their resolve by continuing to threaten, Rousset holding
Paul Wright's 15-yard shot on the turn and their pressure was soon to pay off.
A distinct lack of Hearts' marking on the right was exposed by Holt who had
time and space to pick out Henry who slotted home a close-range equaliser after
33 minutes.
Steve Fulton then released Neil McCann on the left and the Hearts winger
tested Marshall at his near post, but the former Celtic keeper was up to the
challenge.
It was an opening half during which Kilmarnock had most possession and, to
their credit, did much with it and the interval scoreline of a goal apiece was
something of an injustice.
From the restart, it was Kilmarnock who resumed the stronger, Henry forcing
Rousset into another smart save after 47 minutes.
Thomas Flogel missed a fine chance to move Hearts back in front though after
51 minutes as he was given a free header by a precise Fulton free-kick. Ray
Montgomerie then produced a last-ditch tackle to prevent McCann reaching the
ball ahead of the advancing Marshall as the home team finally started to stir.
But manager Jim Jefferies wanted more in attack and after 65 minutes replaced
Austrian Flogel with crowd favourite Jose Quitongo. Kilmarnock pressed on
regardless and only the inside of the post denied them after 74 minutes when
Wright met a Gus MacPherson cross on the volley.
With seven minutes remaining Rousset was the Hearts hero once more as he
tipped over a 20-yard angled drive from substitute Jerome Vareille.
Hearts could have snatched an undeserved victory, McPherson heading over a
deep Weir cross after 86 minutes, but ultimately they were content to gain their
point.
Teams:
Hearts: Rousset, Locke (Makel 21), Naysmith, Weir, McPherson,
Ritchie, McCann, Fulton, Flogel (Quitongo 64), Salvatori,
Hamilton.
Subs Not Used: McManus.
Goals: McPherson 23.
Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Kerr, Montgomerie, McGowne,
Reilly, Nevin, Holt, Wright (Roberts 75), Henry,
McIntyre (Vareille 75).
Subs Not Used: O'Neill.
Booked: McIntyre.
Goals: Henry 34.
Att: 15,338
Ref: W Young (Clarkston).
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